Editor’s note: The following is an opinion piece. The writer is not employed by Military Times and the views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Military Times or its editorial staff.
My father served in World War II. He was on the ground in northern Africa and Italy. He lived during a time when the threat of war engulfed every major nation and when the call to serve weighed heavily on the mind of every American.
Millions were drafted into our armed forces, joining men and women who had volunteered knowing that they could make the difference between freedom and tyranny for generations of Americans to come. My father and the people around him served with one thing in mind, one thing that outweighed the fear they felt, the way their lives were upended, and their homesickness: love of country.
I saw firsthand how my father’s service shaped his life, my mother’s life and my own. But his example is just one — millions served before him and millions have served since. Our nation’s veterans represent the very best values of our country: courage, sacrifice, hard work and a willingness to put others first by fighting to protect them. Veterans deserve to know how much we respect them, and on Veterans Day, we have a special opportunity to remind them.
Often what veterans need most when they return to civilian life is the dignity of a job to start anew and provide for their families. Unfortunately, there are still barriers. Military certifications transferring to private sector jobs; the up-front costs associated with starting small businesses; or the need to play catch-up in educational pursuits put on hold during their years of service can all make the transition to civilian life difficult.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan, and his father, Ray Moran, at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., in September 2008.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sen. Jerry Moran
We should be recognizing the unique skills and corresponding certifications our veterans possess, not requiring them to jump through unnecessary hoops or waste time relearning skills they already have. There are examples of progress: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, for instance, recently provided Johnson County Community College, a school in Overland Park, Kansas, with a grant to support training veterans and their families for jobs as commercial bus and truck drivers. Those who have served our nation transporting people or critical military assets certainly have the skills and background to be some of the safest bus and truck drivers on the road.
Veterans exude the kind of strong work ethic that makes America strong and the greatest nation in the world. That’s why I introduced the Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition Act in 2015 to give veterans the choice and opportunity to pursue resources through the Small Business Association and utilize their GI Bill benefits to start their own businesses.
Some of the best local businesses across Kansas are owned and operated by veterans:
- In Overland Park, Emma Toops, who retired from the Army as a major in 2013, started Toops Consulting, a firm working to bridge the gap between businesses and individual veterans.
- Joe Boeckner, of Hays, served in the Army National Guard and started a T-shirt printing business, Hays Tees, and firearm retailer, Joe Bob Outfitters.
- In Junction City, Jim Fawcett, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, owns Junction City Abstract and Title and The Pampered Pet, a pet-goods store specializing in animal rescue.
The success these service members and many other Kansas veterans have creating jobs, growing the economy and providing services to communities across our state reminds us of the contributions our veterans can make when we support and empower them.
We can do even more than remembering and thanking our veterans on Nov. 11. We must do everything we can to support them and their families and demonstrate our gratitude through action. I will continue working to enable veterans to find meaningful work after separation from service. Their sacrifices have made it possible for us to grow up in a country where freedom and opportunity are woven into the very fiber of our nation.
This Veterans Day, we can show our love of country not only through sharing our thanks with the veterans we know but also by offering veterans jobs and career opportunities, mentoring them during their transition from service, and supporting veteran-owned and -operated businesses.
Jerry Moran recently was elected to his second term in the U.S. Senate. The Kansas Republican serves on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
